SEASIDE -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team endured a rough evening Friday in the Otter Sports Center.

The Golden Eagles fell behind by 20 points in the first half and never recovered in a 71-41 loss to conference leader Cal State Monterey Bay in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest. Cal State L.A. (5-6, 2-5 CCAA) dropped its third straight game, while Cal State Monterey Bay (10-0, 7-0 CCAA) took over sole possession of the conference lead.

The Golden Eagles trailed by 20 points at halftime, but fought back to trail by 14 points with 7:41 remaining. Cal State Monterey Bay, though, responded by closing out the game on a 17-1 run to account for the final margin of victory.

Cal State L.A. shot just 34.2 percent, while Cal State Monterey Bay was an efficient 50 percent. The Golden Eagles were just 1-of-9 from behind the 3-point arc and 14-of-25 from the free-throw line. The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded, 33-15, and committed 21 turnovers.

Shatori Dearman had 17 points to lead all scorers, while Gretchen Tiernan had 10 points.

S. Crain Williams led a balanced Cal State Monterey Bay attack with 14 points, while Brandi Stephens chipped in with 14 points. A total of 12 Cal State Monterey Bay players scored in the game.

The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, had just five players score. After Dearman and Tiernan, Lacy Ramon had seven points, Karmen Gunn had five points and Alisha Belt had two points.

The Golden Eagles allowed the first four points of the game and never led. Cal State L.A. tied it twice, at 4-4 after a basket by Dearman and at 6-6 after a basket by Ramon. A layup by Tiernan kept the Golden Eagles within one point, 11-10, with 13:30 remaining in the half.

Cal State Monterey Bay, though, broke the game open with a 23-3 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 34-13 lead. A Dearman basket late in the half made it 36-19, but a 3-pointer by Erica Ward gave the Otters a 39-19 halftime lead.

Cal State L.A. gave itself a chance to getting to within 14 points, 54-40, after a free throw by Gunn with 7:41 still to play, but Cal State Monterey Bay held the Golden Eagles scoreless until a Tiernan free throw in the final minute. The Otters finished the game on a 17-1 run.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a game at San Francisco State.